Celtic Workshop #42 - The Initiation of Lugh at Tara
Lugh's initial admittance to the company of the Tuatha De' Danann at Tara is a
prototype for the type of initiation one would expect a Druid to go through.
I have attempted to draw the necessary parallels between Lugh's admission and
the stages of training for Druids. This includes the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual disciplines expected of a Druid as well as a series of
Magical Tests.
This workshop was presented by as well as being copyrighted by Searles
O'Dubhain. Please feel free to download and send me your comments. Please do
not upload it to another service or make multiple copies for your friends
without first receiving permission. (I've actually seen these workshops on
the Internet without my permission!)
Thank you all. Please attend our continuing discussions,
Searles O'Dubhain
********** 2/6/95 10:04 PM Forum CO
R 2 : *SYSTEM* | Switching to Workshop/Seminar
Searles | The Initiation of Lugh at Tara
|
Searles | I shall attempt tonight to describe the events
| surrounding Lugh's acceptance into the company
| at Tara. In doing so, I also hope to shed
| additional light on the Magical techniques of the
| Tuatha De' Danann as well as the Druids. It is my
| opinion that the Initiation of Lugh is very similar
| in style and substance to the initiation that Druids
| could expect when their studies and disciplines
| had been mastered. I will start by telling the tale
| of Lugh's Admission to Tara. This will give us some
| background around which we can discuss the implied
| Magical as well as tradition aspects of Druidic
| initiations. When we are finished with our
| analysis, I think we will have discovered that Lugh's
| Magick is not so different from our own.
|
Searles | Lugh studied for many years under a smith and a Druid.
| When he was finished and had acquired every skill that
| he could master, he presented himself at the front
| gate of Tara, to be admitted to the Enclosure of Tara
| within. The gate keeper was Camal mac Riagail,
| (recall that this means "Sober, son of Rule"),
| and his duty was to admit only the fittest to the
| company of the Tuatha De' Dannan. Let us start with
| the questioning at the gate.
|
Searles | Entering the Gate of Tara
|
Searles | This is a ritual that requires the person desiring
| admission to the company of Tara to posses a skill
| that is not already resident within the hall.
|
Searles | "Sober" challenges Lugh and his company and
| asks what special skill he has that would allow
| him to be admitted to the company of Tara, for
| noone is admitted without an art.
|
Searles | They run through this list of skills and Lugh
| is not admitted for any one of them, since Tara
| already possesses a "skilled one" of the type.
| This is the tale:
|
Searles | SAMILDANACH "The Many Skilled One"
|
Searles | (A story of Admission to the Circle of the Wise)
|
Searles | The Enclosure of Tara was built upon the top
| of a Magical hill within the Sacred Center of Ireland.
| Within were all the aos dana ("poetkind") or
| "skilled ones" of Ireland and the Tuatha De' Danann.
Searles | Lugh ("Light") sought admission based upon his many
| buada ("excellences") and clessa ("accomplishments").
|
Searles | these are Lugh's skills and those of the aos dana:
| builder - Luchta mac Luachada - sairsi "handicraft"
| smith - Colum Cualeinech - gaibneacht "smithwork"
| champion - Ogma mac Ethlend
| harper - Abcan mac Bicelmois - cruitireacht "harping"
| warrior - Bresal Etarlam mac Echdach
| ("Great hand, son of the Sky Horse") -
| milaideacht "soldiering"
| poet and historian - Enmac Ethamain - filideacht "poetry"
| sorcerer - Mathgen ("Born of a Bear") -
| druidheacht "wizardry"
| druid - Figol mac Mamois ("Vigil son of
| Subservience") -
| drai'ocht "druidry"
| physician - Dian Cecht ("swift power")
| cupbearers -
| Delt, Druct ("dew"), Daithe ("swiftness,light"),
| Tae "birth", Talom "earth, speedy", Trog "offspring",
| Gle "clear, evident", Glan "clean, pure",
| Glesse "brightness"
| brazier - Credne Cerd (cerd "artificer") -
| umaideacht "brasswork"
|
Searles | Lugh is finally admitted by the gatekeeper after
| he is found to possess the one quality that is
| lacking within the boundaries of the Hill, this
| is the ability of one person to do many skills.
|
Searles | He is called "Samildanach" because he is
| "many skilled". The possession of these many
| skills is very similar to attaining a diploma
| from a school. Lugh has studied and learned
| many crafts and skills to prepare himself
| for the tasks that are to come. Any candidate
| for admission to the fellowship of Tara would
| have to have had similar training.
|
Searles | THIS IS THE FIRST LEVEL
|
Searles | Mastery at this level represents learning and is
| the key to transcending the physical levels and
| to developing the powers of the mind. This test
| shows Lugh's Master of Knowledge. The symbol
| for this level is the cross or "Eadha". It represents
| the gate that must be passed.
|
| This is a very similar qualification ritual
| to the type required for joining the Fianna.
|
Searles | What follows are two trials based upon
| knowledge of the Land and it's connection
| to the King and the People. Two well known
| symbols for the Land and Sovereignty are
| used, "The Fidchell game" and the Lia Fail.
|
Searles | Fidchell, Game of the Gods
|
Searles | In addition to all of the previously declared
| skills, Lugh's ability to use strategy and
| to innovate are tested in a game of Fidchell.
| Fidchell means "Wood Knowledge" and is an
| ancient Irish board game of strategy. It probably
| was played in much the same way as other similar
| games, including chess. Normally, one player
| would attempt to defend a king piece in the
| middle of the board from attacking players
| located along the boards edges. Generally, the
| attackers woul have the advantage of numbers and
| the defender might have the advantage of position.
| Gameboards havebeen discovered within peat bogs.
| Some of them have holes in them for the pieces
| (similar to "Chinese checkers"). It is thought that
| Fidchel may have involved the use of Ogham
| characters as well as geographical layouts.
| This game is identical to Gwydbbyll played at Samhain
| by the Welsh kings against Gwynn ap Nudd, Master
| of the "Wild Hunt". The stakes may well have been
| the life of the King and the well-being of the kingdom
| for the coming year. As such, it may also
| have been used for divinations. Needless to
| say, Lugh wins his game handily, using a move
| that had never been seen before. This was called
| the "Enclosure of Lugh" or the "Cro of Lugh".
|
Searles | The Cro of Lugh
|
Searles | The word "Cro" means "enclosure" as I've already
| stated.
|
Searles | Lugh's skills at Fidchell and his innovation of
| the "Cro", show that he is capable of capturing
| a king as well as being a formidable opponent
| of amazing mental abilities. At this point he
| is challenged by the King's Champion, Ogma.
|
Searles | Ogma and the Flagstone
|
Searles | Ogma is Nuada's champion. It is he that battles
| in the place of the King. Not only is he skilled
| in weapons, he is a master of eloquence and
| learning. Ogma is also called Grianainech or
| Ogma ("The Sun Faced"). He is associated with
| the Sun. He is the inventor of the Oghams.
| Ogma issues a challenge to Lugh by
| throwing the flagstone of Tara out through the
| walls at Lugh. This is no mean feat, as this
| particular stone required four groups of twenty
| oxen to move. Lugh has already proven his
| basic abilities at the gate. He has demonstrated
| the shrewdness of his mind at Fidchell. What can
| be the purpose and form of this particular trial?
| Before answering that question, let's see what Lugh
| does in answer to Ogma's challenge. Lugh picks
| the stone up easily, throws it back through the
| SAME HOLE as Ogma and even throws the piece of the
| wall that was knocked loose back into place,
| perfectly SEALING the HOLE. Some sources say that
| this stone is also the Lia Fail or "Stone of Destiny".
| If that is true, then Lugh's destiny is being
| directly challenged not only by the King's
| champion but also by the stone that chooses the
| kings as well. This task is very similar to the Magical
| feat of Arthur in pulling the sword Excalibur from
| the stone. Only the chosen one or one of great
| Magick (like Merlin or Ogma) can handle such
| Magical stones. Ogma had to STRUGGLE with the
| flagstone. It is a great task and only a "chosen one"
| can accomplish it.
|
Searles | Not only does Lugh answer Ogma's challenge easily,
| he actually goes him one better! Lugh has demonstrated
| great wisdom in accomplishing this task. He has
| accepted his Destiny, as symbolized by the Lia Fail and
| as tested in the challenge of Ogma, He has easily
| handled the weight of his fate and traced the source
| of his Destiny. He has returned the Stonet of Destiny
| to it's appropriate sanctuary and he has even repaired
| the damage that fate has caused to the wall of Tara!.
| In performing this task Lugh has shown great insight
| into cause and effect, identifying the source of problems
| before repairing the damage that they cause.
|
Searles | THIS IS THE SECOND LEVEL.
|
Searles | Lugh has shown clear mastery of strategy, creativity
| and insight in his dealings with the symbols for the
| Land.
|
| This level is represented by the diamond. This the
| passingthrough from knowledge to Wisdom. It is through
| thisdiamond shaped opening that Destiny passes. The
| Ogham for this is Oir, the spindle, the sybol of birth.
| This ability to handle the relationship of the mind and
| the Land shows that Lugh's Mastery of Knowledge from
| his previous training is matched in his Mastery of Wisdom
| using the Mind. Passing these tests show he is ready
| to face the tests of the Spirit, as well as Magick, that
| are yet to come.
|
Searles | The Sage's Seat
|
| After accepting his Destiny and conquering it, Lugh
| is invited within the Enclosure of Tara and is asked
| to sit within the Sage's Seat by Nuada, the King.
| This is a chair of great honor next to that of the
| king. This is the position held by the King's Druid
| or Chief Ollamh. Lugh is asked to play the harp,
| one of the functions of the Filidh and a skill that
| is mastered by The Dagda, Himself.
|
Searles | The Three Strains of the Harp
|
Searles | Lugh plays the "sleep strain" so that the entire company
| sleeps for a day and a night. He plays the "Sorrowful
| Strain" so that all present are filled with wailing.
| He plays the "Joyful Strain", so that all there are
| filled with ecstasy. Lugh has clearly mastered the
| power of the Dagda and the Music of the Bards.
| Nuada, the King of the Tuatha De' Danann, asks
| that Lugh accept the kingship for a period of
| thirteen days.
|
| The Request of Nuada
|
Searles | Nuada saw that Lugh was able to lead the Tuatha
| more effectively than he could against the Fomoire.
| He counseled with his advisors and made the decision
| to change seats with Lugh. Nuada took the Sage's
| seat and Lugh sat as the King. This exchange was
| set to last for thirteen days.
|
Searles | Why does Nuada request this of Lugh? Why for only a
| short period? Why thirteen days?
|
Searles | The thirteen days may well represent a lunar year of
| thirteen months of moons. When lunar time is
| mentioned in Irish tales, the meaning is usually Magical.
| This reference to thirteen days can well mean a
| period of "a year and a day". At this time the Tuatha
| De' Danann effectly have two kings, Lugh and Nuada.
| Nuada has stepped down due to his "blemish" (though
| a Magical Silver Hand is quite a blemish!) The
| subsequent death of Nuada in battle may well be
| the "sacrificial offering" of the King for his Land and
| his people. My own family has a history wherein
| a warrior cut his own hand off for the sake of the clan.
| Lugh is acknowledged as one of great potential, but
| until he has proven himself in further trials, the people
| of Danu have two leaders.
|
Searles | THIS IS THE THIRD LEVEL.
|
| Lugh has shown that he has the Spirit of a Bard.
| He has the three skills, the mastery of the Bardic
| strains (actually they are Magical charms). He is able
| to cast spells, weave dreams and sustain them over a
| period of time. The Ogham for this level is the "double
| X", or Iphin. It represents the existence of two leaders,
| Nuada and Lugh. It represents as well the placing of the
| ancient wisdom into the power of the new initiate. I
| am reminded of the Colloquy of the Two Sages.
|
Searles | The Amrun of Grellach Dollaid
|
Searles | Following Lugh's acceptance of the leadership of the
| Tuatha De' Danann, he holds his first conference,
| the Amrun of Grellach Dollaid. Significantly, The
| Dagda and Ogma are invited as well as Lugh's two
| kinsmen, Goibhniu and Dian Cecht. We have previously
| seen that the word Amrun means "a time of Magical
| chanting". Grellach Dollaid seems to mean
| "pleasantries and injuries". If this so, it would
| seem to show that Lugh is holding his first
| Magical ritual after being accepted into the company
| of Tara. He is flanked on each side, by Ogma with
| the Sword of the King's Champion and Eloquence (based
| on my table of correspondences, in the East), by the
| Dagda, master of the harp and the staff (in the South),
| by his kinsman, Dian Cecht (to his right in the West
| with the healing waters of the Cauldron of Rebirth),
| and he is backed by his kinsman Goibniu (representing
| the Magic of Earth in the North). Lugh's Magical
| chanting is performed facing the Dagda and his strength
| is supported by the power of his kinsmen, in his place
| of greatest strength, on his right hand, and in his place
| of greatest weakness at his back. The fact that my
| correspondences have Lugh facing the flaming Spear in
| the South as well as the pathway of the Sun across the
| Southern sky should also be noted. Lugh is perfectly
| centered to act as the conduit for the Magical chanting.
| This centering technique is very similar to age-old
| shamanic power raising practices.
|
Searles | This Amrun is conducted in a Magical Circle that is a
| place located outside of normal time and space. This
| fact is revealed by the description that says they
| chanted for "a year and a day". This is a common
| aphorism for existence within the Celtic Otherworld
| where ordinary time has no meaning. Spells are
| constructed and empowered by this group to cause
| "injuries" to the Fomoire and also to protect and
| strengthen the Tuatha De' Dannan as they prepare
| for the second battle of Magh Tuireadh.
|
Searles | THIS IS THE FOURTH LEVEL.
|
| Lugh has conducted and led a Magical Ritual
| where he is the focal point of the Power raised.
| He has probably written many of the chants
| himself. He is a priest of Celtic Magick. He is
| a Master of Magick. The Ogham for this level is
| the Dessel ("Sunwise") Spiral. It goes by the
| name of Uillean and is also a symbol of passing
| into alternate realities. Lugh has passed all of
| the individual tests. His trials are almost complete.
|
Searles | He has mastered Knowledge, Wisdom, Spirit
| and Magick. He has only one more test to pass to
| attain the five levels of a Druid. He must
| show that he has discovered his Inner Self. He
| must manifest his own Power Perfectly and
| in harmony with all other Powers. He must face
| his own death. I call this the attainment of this next
| level, the Mastery of ONE.
|
Searles | The Cro of Nine Spears
|
Searles | Following the Magical chanting of the Amrun, Lugh
| summons his forces to him and requests a summation
| of their individual contributions to the upcoming
| battle. Each of the Tuatha details a particular
| skill or feat that will be performed (very
| reminiscent of Lugh's many skills as detailed
| previously). The Dagda says that what they have
| all said they will do he will also do himself.
| This means that the Dagda is also "Samildanach"
| or "many-skilled". The Dagda is hailed as
| "The Good God" from that day forward. Perhaps
| the Dagda is the Avatar of Lugh's Power? He is
| the summation of the forces that the Tuatha is
| marshalling against their arch enemies and
| particularly against Balor their King (also
| Lugh's Grandfather, whose destiny was that he
| would die by the hand of his grandson).
|
Searles | The battle against the Fomoire commenced and, as
| was the Celtic custom, Lugh was prevented from
| doing personal combat. He was surrounded in
| a circle of nine spearmen that protected him
| from attack. These spear men were his foster-
| fathers: Tollusdam, Echdam, Eru, Rechtaid Finn,
| Fosad, Feidlimid, Ibar, Scibar and Minn.
| (Boy!, do I wish I could translate these names!)
| While Lugh was held from the battle,
| the Fomoire were wrecking havoc upon the Tuatha
| through the power of Balor's "Evil Eye".
|
| The Eye of Balor
|
Searles | Balor had a single eye that was huge. It was also
| a poisonous or "evil" eye. When not in use, the eye
| was covered by a shield that required 4 men to open
| it. These four men had to seize a ring that allowed
| the power of the eye to be revealed. During the
| battle, Balor slew Nuada and Macha by the power of
| this eye. What was this eye? How did it kill?
| How did Lugh defeat the Power of the eye? What is an
| evil eye anyway? How is this battle tied in with
| Lugh's relationship to himself, his kingship and
| his own Power? These are the questions we shall
| attempt to answer, once the tale is done.
|
Searles | The mundane details of the story, say that Lugh
| escaped from the Cro of the Nine Spears to
| cast a rock through Balor's eye as its cover was
| being lifted. The Power of the eye was not
| allowed to reach lethal levels before Lugh's rock
| crashed through Balor's brain and eye. This is
| very reminiscent of David fighting Goliath as well.
| Lugh then, removed Balor's head as a battle prize.
|
Searles | THIS IS THE FIFTH LEVEL.
|
| Lugh has faced the "Evil Eye". He has faced the
| ultimate Power of the Fomoire. He has withstood
| the forces that sought to deny him birth. He has
| conquered the enemy that slew the old leader
| Nuada and the connection to Sovereignty, Macha.
| He has lead the Tuatha De' Danann to victory.
| In doing so, he has also looked within the
| "Inner Eye" and faced his worse fears. He has
| escaped from the Cro of the Nine Spears to calmly
| cast his fate into the eye of the storm, the unknown.
| He has become ONE by mastering his fear and taking
| the Power of his fear to himself. He has attained
| the unity of all ways. This is symbolized by the
| Sacred Center, the three times three, the
| Square of nine divisions. This is the Ogham,
| "Phagos". This is the Cauldron of Cauldrons.
| It is the Source of All. Irt is warmed by the breath
| of nine Witches. It is surrounded by nine hazel trees.
| Phagos symbolizes the Witch Hazel itself.
|
Searles | The Head, the Tree and the Shield
|
Searles | Balor besought Lugh to set his head upon Lugh's
| shoulders so that Lugh would earn his blessing.
| Lugh realized this to be a trick so he set the head
| in a hazel tree above an eastern wave and within
| a fork in its trunk. The poison of Balor's head,
| split the tree trunk. It stood thusly for 50 years,
| home to ravens and vultures until Manannan had
| a shield made from it. It is this shield that was later
| the Shield of Fionn. If one would look upon this mighty
| shield, one would see the 20 Oghams and the
| "forfedha" show that he too passed the five tests
| to achieve the five levels of the Druid. Always
| remember, it was Lugh that won the battle, Manannan
| that fashioned the shield and Fionn that shared the
| wisdom.
|
Searles | After passing all of these tests and fighting these many
| battles on all of the levels of consciousness and self,
| Lugh has achieved ONEness for his many skills. He is
| Samildanach. The Power of the Dagda is his. As a
| symbol of his mastery he would have developed his
| own shield to hang in the weapons hall at Tara. There
| it would have proclaimed his buada "excellences" and
| clessa or "accomplishments" along with those of
| the heroes of the Tuatha De' Danann. This is a very
| shamanic act and worthy of a Druid. Perhaps we
| would all do well to study the symbols that we
| would write upon our own shields? Shall we seek the
| Pathways of Knowledge, Wisdom, Spirit, Magick
| and ONEness for ourselves?
********** 2/6/95 11:03 PM Forum CO
A few afterthoughts and tidbits from Searles:
In my own personal approach to Druidism and Celtic studies, I've accumulated
quite a few books on a wide variety of topics. I took the example of Lugh's
Initaiation at Tara and blended it with my own personal tradition to derive a
first pass approach to gaining five levels of Druidic knowledge. This is my
currently recommended study list for gaining Celtic/Druidic knowledge. (there
are many other better books but I don't personally have them in my library
yet, so I haven't included them here.)
If any of you have recommendations on how this list can be made better or how
the curricullum can be improved, I'd love to hear from you! Please e-mail me
at: 74750,221 on CI$ or "74750.221@compuserve.com" via Internet.
Mise le meas,
Searles
____________________________________
DRUIDIC CURRICULUM
YEAR 1:
1st LEVEL (Bardic Knowledge - Blue - Mind) [21 Books]
INTRODUCTION TO DRUIDS (Elements - Carr-Gomm/Matthews, also Piggott)
MODERN-DAY DRUID ORGANIZATIONS (ADF, Keltria, OBOD, Druidactos, NRDG)
TREE OGHAMS (Book of Oghams-Thorsen, Magickal Alphabets - Pennick)
FIONN'S WHEEL (Celtic Shaman - Matthews)
BASIC GAELIC AND WELSH
BASIC CELTIC TRADITION AND TALES (Rhees and Rhees,Squire and Rolleston)
OTHER OGHAMS (Pennick, Thorsen, Murray, O'Dubhain, Graves)
CELTIC MUSIC (Celtic Magic, Loreena McKennitt, Clannadh, Godwin)
CELTIC COSMOLOGY (Delany, Matthews, Stewart, MacCrossan)
CELTIC DEITIES (Delany, Matthews, Stewart, MacCrossan)
2ND LEVEL (World Knowledge - Green - Body) [9 Books]
BASIC DRUID PHILOSOPHY (The Druid Way - Carr-Gomm, Sacred Cauldron-MacCrossan)
INTERMEDIATE GAELIC AND WELSH LANGUAGE STUDY
TAIN BO CUAILGE (Kinnsella)
CATH MAIGE TURADH (Irish Celtic Magical Tradition - Blamires)
MABINOGIAN (Matthews)
HERBS AND CRYSTALS (Cunningham, Keyte)
WORD OGHAMS (Matthews)
OGHAM DIVINATION (Thorsen)
ELEMENTARY MAGICK (Bonewits, Weinstein)
YEAR 2:
3RD LEVEL (Spiritual Knowledge - Yellow - Spirit) [17 Books]
CONCEPTS OF THE SOUL (Rhees and Rhees, Taliesin by Matthews, MacCrossan)
CELTIC RITUALS (Celtic Reader - Matthews, Book of Druidry - Nichols)
CELTIC SHAMANISM (Celtic Shaman - Matthews, Fire in the Head - Cowans)
CELTIC SAINTS (Celtic Christianity- Anthony Duncan, Celtic Fire - Robert
Van de Weyer, Irish Saints - Robert Reilly, The Real Story of
St. Patrick - George Otto Simms)
CELTIC WOMEN (Women of the Celts - Moyra Caldecott, The Serpent and the
Goddess - Mary Condren, Women of the Celts- Jean Markale, The
Goddess - Caitlin Matthews)
MEGALITHIC STRUCTURES ( Brennan, Brennen, Devereaux, Pepper & Wilcox)
DINDSENCHAS (Rhees and Rhees, Matthews, Squire, Rolleston)
IMMRAMA (Book of the Dead, Rolleston, Squire)
4TH LEVEL (Magical Knowledge - Orange - Occult) [14 Books]
CELTIC TAROTS (Matthews, Murray, Pennick, Grays, Stewart)
OLD and MIDDLE IRISH, ANCIENT WELSH, CORNISH, BRETTON, MANX
WORKS OF CATHBAD (Rhees and Rhees)
WORKS OF MOGH RUITH (A Celtic Reader-Matthews)
WORKS OF AMERGIN (Rhees and Rhees)
WORKS OF TALIESIN (Book of Taliesin - Matthews)
WORKS OF MERLIN (Merlin-Goodrich, Merlin - Stewart, Merlin - Tolstoi)
CELTIC MAGICK (Hope, Conway, Monroe, McCoy, Nichols, Matthews, Stewart,
Farrars)
Imbas Forosna
Dichetal Do Chennaibh
Teinm Laida
Augury
YEAR 3:
5TH LEVEL (Priestly Knowledge - Red - Soul) [3 Books]
ADVANCED DRUID PHILOSOPHY (Book of Druidry, Taliesin, Rhees and Rhees)
COMPOSITION OF CHANTS (1000 years of Irish Poetry,Taliesin, Mabinogian,
Celtic Miscellany)
COMPOSITION OF RITUALS (Cunningham, Farrars, Nichols, Carr-Gomm, MacCrossan)
ADVANCED CELTIC MAGICK (O'Dubhain)
Glam Dichenn
Tarbhfeis
OOBE
Becoming
Making
A total of (5 Levels), [66 Books] and {38 Subjects}
The above book count may be slightly off due to some last minute additions and
changes, but I think that you'll agree that one must read and study many, many
books to even approach a truly Druidic level of knowledge. In each of the
Celtic Workshops, I have attempted to include some of the knowledge that I
have gained in this study. Hopefully, many of you will be encouraged to read,
think and to ponder the manyfold ways of the Druids! :)
Searles
P.S. Please e-mail me with any books you find better suited to the above areas
of study. (74750,221)